Free Ambition and Alavidha by Candy Rae Page A

and one never knew,
perhaps he wouldn’t even pay it back. With almost six hundred gold
crowns he would be able to go anywhere he wanted to and certainly
far enough away from the man he intended to swindle and from the
cut-throats he was like to send out to find him.
    Chad made a
visit to Nonder Walmson.
    “I need to get
to the Gtratha,” he informed him bluntly, “how much?”
    Nonder
considered the request, eyes narrowing as he calculated the
impossible and the possible, the costs and how much he would
charge.
    “I take it that
this isn’t a pleasure trip?”
    Chad said
nothing.
    Nonder Walmson
was not surprised. Only a foolish thief would tell another the
object of his intentions.
    “I suppose you
could go on one of these new-fangled pleasure caravans. Believe it
or not, but people pay good coin to get bumped along, they call it
a holiday! I ask you? For me a holiday is a comfortable seat in
front of the fire with good wine my companion. Would cost you about
twenty-five gold crowns, but travellers are watched. Bunches of
ne’er do wells, sons mostly of rich folk off on a ‘great adventure’
into the Rtathlians. They’re watched ‘cos there’s been some trouble
in the past.”
    “No. That is
not an option.”
    “Thought as
much. It’ll have to be one of the trade caravans then. Drellor’s
the best. If there is such a thing as an honest merchant it’s
Drellor. He’s trusted. Makes two trips a year, beginning and end of
summer. Then there’s Trendor, but he’s a mite unreliable. Likes his
drink does Trendor.”
    Drunk men, in
Chad’s experience were virtually incapable of keeping their mouths
shut.
    “Drellor,” he
told Nonder, “he sounds about right. How do I go about getting a
place in his next caravan?”
    “Drellor
charges an arm and a leg and is real careful about who he accepts.
He says he’s got a reputation to maintain but he pays well for
honest and reliable guards, no skimping. Bandits don’t attack
Drellor. As I say, he charges a lot of coin but you’ll get there
and back with your coin intact. Many feel that’s a fair bargain.
Don’t know if he’s got any room left for his next trip though. Last
I heard there was a waiting list of applicants. What are your trade
goods?”
    “I hadn’t quite
worked that one out yet,” Chad admitted.
    “Drellor won’t
take along any duplicated goods,” Nonder warned, “says it helps
keep disharmony at bay, his word, not mine and he won’t budge on
that no matter how much coin he’s offered. He doesn’t take bribes
either. I’d suggest something like jewels or the like, not heavy
you see and you wouldn’t require a wagon, just a pack-horse.
Drellor provides tented accommodation. It’s part of the
service.”
    “I need a place
on that caravan Nonder. How much to arrange?”
    Nonder named a
sum and Chad winced.
    “I don’t have
that much on me,” he temporised.
    “My fee and
Drellor’s fee. That’s what it costs. Your trade goods you purchase
yourself.”
    “If it’s
jewellery the merchandise will be expensive and I won’t be able to
afford that and the fees.”
    “Steal it.”
    “Not this time
my friend. This time, much as it gnaws at my insides I think I’ll
have to buy the goods. Don’t want the law-enforcers dogging my
every step.”
    He stood up,
“no, it’s too much, I’ll find another way.”
    “Oh, don’t be
so hasty Chad. We might be able to come to an alternative
arrangement to our mutual satisfaction and you need me if you
really intend to reach Gtratha unsuspicious like.”
    He looked at
Chad.
    “How much you
being paid for the job?”
    “Enough,”
growled Chad who most definitely did not want to disclose the
amount to Nonder, thinking, quite rightly, that his fee would rise
correspondingly.
    “Is it theft or
delivery?” asked Nonder in an interested voice.
    “Theft,”
admitted Chad with reluctance.
    “How much?”
Nonder pressed.
    “Two hundred
crowns,” lied Chad.
    Nonder nodded
and at least gave